The 54th Engineer Battalion (Corps)(Mechanized) (the "Dagger
Battalion") performed every type of engineering support for the 3d
Infantry Division (3ID) and 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment (3ACR) in
Operation Iraqi Freedom from 21 March 2003 until its relief in place at
the end of May. Whether it was combat, topographic, or general
engineering support, the soldiers and attached members of the 54th did
it all.

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On 8 January 2003, the 54th was alerted for deployment to Kuwait in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Within five days, the battalion had
assembled its companies and loaded its equipment on the train for its
journey toward Baghdad. The 54th is assigned to the 130th Engineer
Brigade, V Corps, in Bamberg, Germany. It has developed a training
support relationship with the divisional cavalry squadrons of the 1st
Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division, the 173d Infantry Brigade
(Airborne), and the Allied Command Europe's Allied Mobile Force
(Land). During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the battalion supported 3ID in
much the same fashion. Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) and
Bravo Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, and two Reserve Component
multirole bridge companies (MRBCs) were attached to the Raiders of 1st
Brigade Combat Team (1BCT). Alpha Company was attached, for combat
operations, to the Spartans of 2BCT, and Charlie Company to the Sabres
of the 3d Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment. Throughout the war and
subsequent stability operations and support operations (SOSO), the 54th
gained and lost numerous company- and detachment-sized forces, and
changed colonel-level commands nine times.

Crossing the Berm

On 21 March, the 54th crossed into Iraq with the 3ID. The mission
of breaching, marking, and controlling five lanes through the complex
border obstacle fell to 1BCT. The 54th Engineer Battalion (-), attached
to 1BCT, served as the crossing area engineer. Marking breach lanes and
manning traffic control points, the battalion managed traffic across the
border for the majority of 3ID and several corps and theater enablers.
The battalion's Bravo Company, the 1st Platoon of the 3d Military
Police Company, and elements of the 299th MRBC manned traffic control
points on both borders, ensuring smooth traffic flow and rapid vehicle
recovery operations to keep the lanes clear. Using shipping containers
mounted on MRBC common bridge transporters twelve feet above the ground
and marked with orange panels, our soldiers funneled traffic from
numerous unit staging areas and sent them onward to Iraq. Within hours,
several thousand coalition vehicles streamed across the border. The
soldiers in the 54th assured the mobility of 3ID forces, setting the
conditions for rapid momentum in the initial stages of Operation Iraqi
Freedom.

Attacking Into Iraq

Crossing the Iraqi border, the battalion moved quickly across open
desert to keep up with the attack. Our routes were primarily along
unimproved roads, which became a challenge for many of the MRBCs. The
battalion was tasked to mark one of the two main supply routes for
follow-on forces. The battalion also provided Team Panther to 3d
Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, and then to 317th Engineer Battalion, to
clear Jalibah and Tallil Airfields in southern Iraq. Before combat
operations, the battalion formed Team Panther, consisting of two M1A1
Panther II systems, a heavy equipment transporter, and a command and
control high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV). Team Panther
leaders developed battle drills to maximize coverage of the roller team
and to allow rapid connection and disconnection of the Panther's
mine rollers. The Panthers self-deployed across the border with the
roller nose cone attached. The team's mission was to clear
unexploded ordnance (UXO) and land mines on both airfields. The 3ID
planned to use Jalibah as a forward area refueling point to push attack
aviation assets forward during the first day and Tallil as a logistics
base throughout the rest of the operation. In 13 hours, the team cleared
and proofed an area ten times larger than an entire combat engineer
company could accomplish in the same time. Although the Panther system
has long been used in Balkan area clearance operations, this is the
first time the system was used in combat.

Actions at An Najaf

After three days of continuous movement through traffic jams, enemy
contact, and a dust storm, the battalion finally reached Tactical
Assembly Area Raiders, outside An Najaf. There, the 54th built
survivability positions with assigned armored combat earthmovers and
dozers from the attached MRBC units. The battalion recovered vehicles
and dug a mass grave for Iraqi soldiers killed in initial combat
operations outside An Najaf. The battalion also conducted bridge
reconnaissance in support of combat operations in An Najaf. At Objective
Jenkins, Iraqi paramilitary forces had damaged a reinforced concrete
bridge over the Euphrates River, threatening to trap U.S. forces in
enemy territory. The 54th sent in its recon-naissance team, equipped
with the engineer reconnaissance kit. The unit sent detailed information
on the bridge to the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) at
Vicksburg, Mississippi, for detailed analysis and a solution. Although
the solution was never implemented, we validated our reachback
connectivity from Iraq to Mississippi.

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Attacking to Objective Peach

Early on 1 April, the battalion attacked with 1BCT through the
Karbala Gap to the Euphrates River. The 299th MRBC provided rubber
assault boats, which the 11th Engineer Battalion used in the assault to
ferry infantry troops across the river, under fire, to secure the far
side and neutralize explosives on the fixed bridge. Unfortunately,
retreating Iraqi soldiers detonated explosive charges, causing minor
damage to one side of the bridge. The battalion again conducted a
technical reconnaissance of the bridge, this time under mortar and small
arms fire. The team transmitted the data via satellite to ERDC, which
responded with a technical solution of using a single-story medium
girder bridge. The 299th MRBC easily installed the bridge, bringing it
up to full operational capability. In addition to the hasty repair of
the fixed bridge, the 299th MRBC built a 200-meter float bridge, at
night, near the fixed-bridge site. In a single day, 299th soldiers
emplaced every piece of Class VII bridging they had carried across the
border.

Actions at Objective Peach

Following the initial assault at Objective Peach, the 54th
established a detailed traffic control plan and emplaced traffic control
points throughout the bridgehead. Attached to the Engineer Brigade of
3ID, the 54th served as the crossing area engineer headquarters,
executing the division and corps movement plan across the Euphrates
River and into Baghdad. The battalion also built the division enemy
prisoner of war compound and operated it for approximately two weeks
until relieved by 3ID military police forces. The fighting at Objective
Peach inflicted great damage and loss of life on the local civilian
population. In response, the 54th Engineer Battalion established an
internal, ad hoc Civil-Military Operations Center. A small team met with
local civilians to show them that the U.S. Army was there to help, not
to hurt, innocent civilians. As a result of their efforts, the battalion
identified and cleared a number of UXO fields and treated a large number
of civilians who had been injured during the battle. Their actions
helped create and maintain a friendly environment at the bridgehead.

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Actions in the 3ID Rear Area

After several weeks of managing traffic, the 54th was given more
responsibility in the 3ID rear area. The battalion reorganized under the
937th Engineer Group and became responsible for traffic control,
security of the bridgehead east of the Euphrates River, maintenance of
existing military bridges, and construction of a second military float
bridge. The 671st MRBC built the bridge at Objective Chamberlain,
outside a small farming community about 20 kilometers upstream from
Objective Peach. The 3ID needed additional supply routes across the
Euphrates River for enhanced logistics flow and chose this site because
of its proximity to the division rear area and to Baghdad International
Airport. The 671st overcame significant obstacles during bank
preparation to emplace the bridge, which became more popular with the
local populace than it was with 3ID.

The 54th reorganized HHC as a combat force and assigned it the
mission of securing the eastern side of the bridgehead. The company had
command and control of a Linebacker air defense artillery platoon, an
Avenger air defense artillery section, and two battalion Panther II
crews. HHC reorganized internally as well and integrated the entire
support platoon into the security role. HHC conducted presence patrols,
performed cordon-and-search operations, and operated traffic control
points along the main supply route across Objective Peach. While HHC
managed the eastern shore, Bravo Company conducted security patrols and
cordon-and-search operations along the western banks of the river. Upon
the return of Alpha Company to the 54th, they were given similar
responsibilities in support of the Objective Chamberlain bridgehead.
Alpha and Bravo Companies uncovered vast amounts of weapons and
ammunition during search operations, including more than 33 Seersucker surface-to-surface missiles in an abandoned warehouse. These were
destroyed with the assistance of the 937th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team. Bravo Company also cleared a runway for the 1st Battalion,
101st Aviation Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. The 814th MRBC
joined the 54th and performed traffic control and managed the digging
assets across the division rear footprint.

Supporting 3ACR in Western Iraq

In late April, the battalion was reassigned to the newly arrived
3ACR in Area of Operations West. Charlie Company remained with 3-7
Cavalry Regiment for continued operations near Baghdad International
Airport. For the mission in support of 3ACR, the battalion had control
of a terrain team from the 320th Engineer Company; the 761st Ordnance
Company (EOD); and Alpha Company, 142d Engineer Battalion, from the
North Dakota Army National Guard. Our support of 3ACR was not only
combat engineering but also infantry- and construction-related projects.
Because the area of operations extended from the borders of Syria,
Jordan, and Saudi Arabia to the outskirts of Baghdad, we assigned
engineer companies to the maneuver squadrons. Alpha Company was attached
to 1st Squadron for operations along the Syrian border and Bravo Company
to the 3d Squadron for operations along the Jordanian border. The 2d
Squadron did not receive any 54th Engineer Battalion augmentation since
it had the 43d Engineer Company, which is organic to the regiment. The
battalion tactical operations center (TOC) colocated with the regimental
TOC in Ar Ramadi, and the remainder of HHC located at Al Asad Air Base,
about two hours west, where it supported the Support Squadron and 4th
Squadron of 3ACR. Each company was augmented with an EOD team to destroy
caches and clear UXO.

Commanders had instructions to be the total force engineer for
their squadron commanders. Combat engineers served as construction
engineers building field latrines, hand-washing stations, and showers.
They set up minor power grids, rewired lights and sockets, repaired air
conditioners, and installed ceiling fans.

Engineers teamed with civil affairs teams for infrastructure
assessments in local towns, looking at water and power production and
distribution systems, sewage treatment facilities, and garbage
collection. In addition, they identified numerous goodwill projects such
as the construction of soccer fields, playgrounds, and central parks.
Engineers assessed facility damage to schools and hospitals. HHC hired
the former Al Asad base engineer (an Iraqi) and a team of local
nationals to get the facility operating at prewar standards. Companies
also operated traffic control points, conducted presence patrols and
search operations, and helped civil affairs teams with civil servant
wage distribution.

The battalion served with the 761st Ordnance Company (EOD), which
embraced our engineer/EOD integration. Although there were not extensive
combat operations at Area of Operations West, there were numerous UXO,
arms and ammunition caches, and major ammunition supply points in the
sector. Leaders developed plans to consolidate and remove captured
ammunition. Engineers were used effectively to handle UXO inside towns
and the many ammunition supply points looted by locals. Using
FalconView[R] software, the battalion also developed a tool for tracking
the numerous cache locations to template and refine search operations
for engineers and maneuver forces. The 320th Engineer Company produced
topographic products for the squadrons, to include town studies,
infrastructure analyses, border-crossing analyses, population density
studies, and detailed products to help units plan raids and seizure
operations. Alpha Company, 142d Engineer Battalion, supported the
regiment through force protection improvements and quality-of-life
upgrades at the regimental TOC and the regimental rear area at Objective
Redskins and for the troops of 1-5 Field Artillery Battalion.

The 54th Engineer Battalion S3 established an internal construction
management section (CMS) that established contracts for improved life
support for the regimental TOC and for the soldiers of the 1-5 Field
Artillery Battalion, living near the university in Ar Ramadi.
Improvements included emplacing gravel, paving, installing an improved
power grid, and air-conditioning tents and dining facilities. The
battalion exercised engineering muscles rarely used in peacetime. With
help from the 130th Engineer Brigade CMS and a small U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Forward Engineer Support Team (FEST), the battalion made great
strides in engineering assistance to Area of Operations West and 3ACR
before our relief in place by the 122d Engineer Battalion (Corps)
(Wheeled) in late May/early June. Our time with 3ACR reinforced the need
for engineer units to supply the full spectrum of engineer services to
the maneuver force. These missions tested our creativity, imagination,
and ability to make something out of nothing.

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Conclusion

Soldiers from the 54th Engineer Battalion executed tasks covering
the full spectrum of engineer operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom,
including combat, construction, and topographic engineering. The
flexibility the battalion gave maneuver commanders helped assure
mobility during high-intensity combat and SOSO. The ability to
accomplish a myriad of tasks made the 54th a combat multiplier and a
true multifunctional engineer battalion.

By Lieutenant Colonel Ed Jackson

Lieutenant Colonel Jackson is the commander of the 54th Engineer
Battalion. He previously served in engineer staff positions at Personnel
Command; in Korea; and in Europe; as well as in the 4th Engineer
Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado; the 554th and 5th Engineer
Battalions at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; and the 41st Engineer
Battalion at Fort Drum, New York. Lieutenant Colonel Jackson is a
graduate of Clemson University.

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